Actuating device for pressurized containers



Nov. 18, 1969 w. H. KRAUSE ACTUATING DEVICE FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERSFiled Jan. 24, 1968 United States Patent M 3,478,938 ACTUATING DEVICEFOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS Walter H. Krause, Chicago, Ill., assignor, bymesne assignments, to PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 700,077 Int.Cl. B65d 83/14; F16k 31/60 US. Cl. 222402.14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE ing member.

The present invention relates to an actuating device for attachment topressurized containers. The actuating device is specifically adapted topressurized containers having a depressible nozzle at their upper end,e.g. the well-known aerosol can. The conventional nozzle is springbiasedand in normal operation the nozzle is deperssed by applying pressurewith the index finger. The depression of the nozzle opens a releasevalve to cause a flow of the contents of the container to be directedfrom the nozzle. The person operating the pressurized container mustmaintain his finger in pressure contact with the nozzle during use,since the valve is normally so biased that it will remain closed exceptduring the time that the nozzle is held in a depressed position.Consequently, use of a pressurized container for prolonged periods oftime may be very tedious and results in undue consumption of time. Insome instances it is desirable to maintain the valve in open positionuntil the entire contents of the container are exhausted.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved actuating device for use in -cornbination with pressurizedcontainers to maintain the nozzle in a depressed position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of theabove-mentioned actuating device with mounting means adapted for easyattachment and removal from a pressurized container.

A more specific object of ,the invention is the provision of anactuating device which is simple in structure, readily fabricated and isprovided with locking means which may be easily engaged and disengaged.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following drawings and description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the actuating device;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the actuating device of FIGURE 1,attached to a conventional aerosol type container illustrated in dashlines; and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the actuating device attached to theconventional aerosol container of FIG- URE 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown an expandable,resilient mounting member 4, preferably in the form of a continuousrodor wire, comprising a looped or arcuate section 6 with offsetupstanding, op posed legs 8 formed by appropriately bending the con-3,478,938 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 tinuous rod or wire. The legs 8 form anintegral support for a bar 10 which provides a hinge axis, as will bedescribed below. The mounting member 4 is depicted and described as onecontinuous loop of wire, but it will be understood that it may be formedof two or more expandable segments joined or welded together at theirends.

At the front of the loop 6 of mounting member 4 at a position on themounting member opposed to the legs 8 is fastened an upstanding lockingmember 14 comprising a resilient unitary shaft or bar with an offsetupstanding end 16.

The bar support 10 of mounting member 4 supports and is attacheddirectly to one end of lever member 18 forming a hinge axis about whichlever 18 may be rotated. The lever member 18 is shown wrapped or hingedaround bar support 10, but it is understood that any attachment whichwill allow rotational movement of the lever is within the scope of theinvention.

The lever member 18, as depicted in its preferred embodiment, is formedof a strip of metal bent at an obtuse angle which will allow the end ofthe lever member to engage the locking member 1 when the body of thelever member engages and depresses the nozzle 20. Lever member 18 isprovided with an aperture 22 at its forward end to engage the offsetupstanding end 16 of locking member 14. A concave depression 24 isprovided in the body of lever member 18. The concave depression ispositioned along the lever member at a point which will allow thedepression to engage spray nozzle 20. On engagement of the lever member18 and the spray nozzle 20, the concave depression 24 will cup the topof the spray nozzle and firmly grip the same. A slot 26 is preferablyprovided in lever member 18 to facilitate pivotal movement between thelever member and bar support by reducing the frictional contact areabetween the two memers. The slot 26 also allows the opposed legs 8 to bespread apart more easily to facilitate sleeving the mounting member 4over the container 28.

FIGURE 2 depicts the actuating device of FIGURE 1 adapted to aconventional aerosol container 28. The looped or arcuate section 6 andopposed legs 8 of the mounting member 4 are spread to allow theactuating device to be sleeved over the container 28. The aerosolcontainer 28 is closed at its upper end by a head 30 crimped over theneck 32 of a domed head 34 secured upon the upper end of the cylindricalbody of the container. A tubular valve stem 36 extends upwardly from thecenter of the container within bead 30 and is provided with adepressible nozzle 20 for projecting a flow of fluid laterallytherefrom. For directing fluid flow the nozzle outlet is attached at itsorifice to a tubular plastic or rubber hose 38 which conducts the fluidalong a predetermined path. The mounting member 4 of the actuatingdevice of FIGURE 1 is shown in position around the neck 32 of theaerosol container 28; however, the mounting member may be positionedaround the body 40 of the container at any easily mounted and convenientposition on the container.

To actuate the nozzle 20, the lever member 18 is manually rotated on barsupport 10 from its open position shown at 42 into interlockingengagement with locking member 14. The lever member 18 is locked intoposition by manually bending locking member 14 backward toward nozzle 20and inserting the offset end 16 of locking member 14 through aperture 22of lever member 18. This can also be accomplished by camming action asthe lever is depressed by slightly extending the end 16 and bending itinward on the appropriate radius as shown. The locking member is thenengaged with the offset end of the locking member being resilientlyurged forward into engaging contact with the edge of aperture 22. Whenthe lever member is in locked position shown at 44, the body of thelever has depressed the nozzle 20 with the concave depression 24 cuppingthe nozzle in a firmly held position. The contact between the body ofthe lever member 18 and the top of the nozzle forces the nozzle downwardand a-ctuates a valve within the container body releasing a flow offluid into hose 38.

To release lever member 18, the locking member 14 is manually bentbackward to allow the offset end 16 of the locking member to disengagethe edge of the aperture 22 of the lever member. The lever member isthen rotated upward and released from the locking member.

It will be seen that the upwardly extending legs 8 of the ofiset portionof the mounting member 4 provide a clearance for the hose 38.Alternatively, Where this hose is omitted, clearance is provided for aspray of fluid from the orifice of nozzle 20. The preferred continuousstructure of the mounting member with the raised offset portion alsoprovides a strong but resilient member which can be readily placed onand removed from the conventional pressurized container.

It is to be understood that while one form of the invention has beenillustrated, it is not to be limited to such specific form except asprovided by the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An actuating device for attachment to a pressurized container; saidcontainer having a depressible valve actuating nozzle projectingupwardly of said container; said device comprising: an expandableresilient continuous mounting member having an arcuate section forsleeving over said container and an upwardly bent offset sectionproviding opposed leg members extending upwardly and supporting atransverse section; a locking member comprising a resilient unitary barextending upwardly from said arcuate section; and a lever memberrotatably attached at one end to said transverse section to allowinterlocking engagement between said lever member and said lockingmember while said lever member is in depressing relationship with saidnozzle.

2 A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting member is formedof a continuous length of wire or rod bent to shape.

4 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever member isprovided with an aperture to allow interlocking engagement between saidlever member and said locking member. 5 4. A device as defined in claim3 wherein the upstanding end of said locking member is offset to allowinterlocking engagement between said locking member and said levermember.

5. An actuating device for attachment to a pressurized container; saidcontainer having a depressible valve actuating nozzle projectingupwardly of said container; said device comprising: an expandableresilient continuous wire mounting member having an arcuate section forsleeving over said container and an upwardly bent offset sectionproviding opposed leg members extending upwardly and supporting atransverse section; a locking member comprising a resilient unitary barwith an offset upstanding end extending upwardly from said arcuatesection; and a lever member rot-atably attached at one end to saidtransverse section, said lever having an aperture spaced from itsattached end to allow interlocking engagement between said lever memberand said offset upstanding end of said locking member, and a concavedepression intermediate its attached end and said aperture for engagingsaid nozzle when said lever member is in interlocking engagement withsaid locking member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1963 Kutik ZZZ-402.15 X 5/1967Belpedio ZZZ-402.15

FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1960 France.

H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

